ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will remain in a Dubai hospital for a heart condition, the prime minister’s office said on Wednesday.

“The president went to Dubai following symptoms related to his pre-existing heart condition, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s media office said in a statement.

“The president will remain under observation and return to resume his normal functions as advised by the doctors.”

Zardari in “stable” condition

President Zardari’s spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar relayed a health bulletin on the President from his personal physician Col. Salman that “Routine evaluation of the President’s condition is being carried out. Investigations carried out so far are essentially within normal range and the President’s condition is stable.”

Zardari had ‘minor heart attack’: Minister

President Zardari suffered a “minor heart attack” and was in Dubai for a small operation and said that he will return to Islamabad on Thursday as he was in good health, a minister confirmed earlier on Wednesday.

Mustafa Khokhar, minister in charge of human rights, told AFP that despite media reports there was “no question of any resignation” by Zardari, who is under pressure over a scandal that saw his ambassador to the US step down.

“He had a minor heart attack on Tuesday. He flew to Dubai where he had an angioplasty. He’s in good health now. He will come back tomorrow. There’s no question of any resignation,” said Khokhar.

Khokhar’s statement contradicted with President spokesman Farhatullah Babar’s message sent early morning on Wednesday, in which he said that the president was in a Dubai hospital for a routine medical checkup as planned and the media reports speculating on his activities and engagements were ‘speculative, imaginary and untrue’.

Other sources in the Presidency told The Express Tribune that all media reports speculating on the president’s health and resignation after his departure for Dubai were untrue.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the President went to Dubai at the insistence of his children.

The doctors are yet to determine whether President’s condition was due to an adverse reaction to the medication he was taking or a development related to his pre-existing cardiac condition.

A source in Dubai familiar with the 56-year-old president’s condition told Reuters that he had suffered a minor heart attack.

“Two days ago, he had chest pain” and decided to go to Dubai, the source said.

Six years ago, Zardari had also had a minor heart attack, the source said.

“Since then, he has been on medication.”

A Dubai-based member of Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Mian Muneer Hans, said the president landed in Dubai around 7:30pm on Tuesday.

“He walked to his car in the airport and was not on any ambulance,” said Hans, adding that he was accompanied by his doctor and petroleum minister Asim Hussain. Zardari was taken straight to the American Hospital in Dubai, said Hans.

“He’s taking rest in the hospital now. He may be there for two to three days,” he added.

The hospital’s chief executive officer Thomas Murray, contacted by Reuters, declined to comment on the reports.

“Some elements blew up this to create unrest in the country,” said Fauzia Wahab, a senior member of the PPP. “His visit to Dubai and having a medical check up is perfectly normal.”

Other media reports had stated that Zardari was rushed to the hospital after suffering a ‘minor heart attack’ and was undergoing angioplasty after reaching Dubai via an air ambulance.

The president’s personal physician Col Salman had also emphasised earlier that it was a ‘routine’ checkup and the medical tests were linked to a previously diagnosed cardiovascular condition.

President Zardari had earlier left for the Emirati state to visit his children and undergo some medical tests. He was accompanied by his physicians and limited personal staff. He is due to address a joint sitting of Parliament immediately after Muharram.

We wish President Zardari a speedy recovery: White House

The US wished President Zardari a speedy recovery on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, ”Well, I don’t have anything beyond to say that we have seen the reports, we’ve heard what the — I guess the government spokesman has said. And we certainly hope — wish him a speedy recovery from his medical condition.”

Carney was responding to a question on whether the White House had any additional information on Zardari’s trip to Dubai and if there was more to the story.

@Pakistani: I absolutely know what’s going around mate. But this is basic human instinct to wish somebody health no matter how good or bad the person is. Out holy Prophet who was undoubtedly the greatest person to have lived on the planet, himself visited his arch enemies when they were ill and wished them health. I am a PTI worker by the way but I see no harm in wishing Zardari health.

Yesterday there was a news that Obama phoned Zardari about the NATO attack and Today Zardari had to be flown to Dubai for a heart condition. What did Obama say that had such an effect on Zardari’s heart?

Does this mean good bye zardari and welcome to our latest brand of military dictatorship? This time round, no coup, only a suffocating embrace by big brother. Media and judiciary “completely free and independent” so long as they do not question or challenge the military’s wisdom or their actions.Foreign channels (e.g. BBC) still up to mischief and revealing our true face? The patriotic Cable walas will impose censorship and take them off the war. No sweat. welcome to the Islamic Republic of Jihadis and their cheerleaders.

@Shahzad S. Janjua: Maybe you should ask all of our leaders the same question. Do you remember how Musharraf went to US for a full check up and cardiac work up. He wasn’t even an elected official but a dictator.

He had been certainly elected by an electoral college of national assemblies and provincial parliaments; but he has been never directly elected by the PEOPLE as the presidents of US and France.
Zardari is the head of the governing system of Pakistan and he has nothing to do with the people of Pakistan directly or indirectly.
He is beyond the people, above the nation and elected supreme authority of the governing establishment of Pakistan.
Theoretically he is above the Army. But that is another story because in Pakistan the army generals are the king makers!!

If President had gone to the US, Or London (like Sharif family) these same people who are critical would be after his life that he is in bed with NATO. He went to his home to his kids in an Islamic brotherly country and still the nay sayers are creating a storm in a tea cup. “The news of President’s demise were highly exaggerated”.
Series of lie: HH would never come to Pakistan
HH would never sue the US paper
Now the same lies are about the elected president. No wonder “lie” is the base of all evils in Islam. Do we see any apology from anybody yet?

@Anserali Khan:
Why don’t ordiary citizens go to the same hospitals where their paid servansts army men go? Where is Islamic equality when it comes to the army? There are reserved hospitals for the rulers (army) but not for civilians. Why don’t mullahs demand justice and euality? Where there is no petition before the SC CJ on this injustice with the common people?
Regards,
Mirza

At least Zaradri ws elected through a process, Musharraf took over illegaly with a gun and the dictator still had check ups overseas. At least Zardari has done it legally. Musharraaf did it illegaly. That’s the difference!

@Asad: The point I was trying to make was that a dictator who takes over illegally through unconstitutional means had a full cardiac work up in the US when he was dictator. His trips were paid by Pakistani tax payers even though the tax payers did not elect him. On the other hand, Zardari ( I do not support him politically) who is an official of an elected party can justifiably go for treatment if sanctioned by the government appointed doctors. If the newly elected president of Tunisia legally uses government funds because he is an elected representative is much better than the previous dictator Ben Ali who just appropriated what he wanted without any care to law. Maybe you need to support other dictators like Asad in Syria, Ben Ali in Tunsia, Gaddafi in Libya , Salah in Yemen in addition to Musharraf in Pak?

LAHORE: Former law priest Senator Babar Awan on Friday guaranteed that the folks had chosen Pakistan Peoples Party co-administrator Asif Ali Zardari as president, who will finish his five-year tenure as head of state till September 2013.